Propelling mechanism for tractors.



APPLICATION FILED SEPT-22,1916.

Patented Spt. 24, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

.IIJI III l. M. DENNING.

PROPELLING MECHANISM FOR TRAcToRs.

MPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22| 1916.

Patented Sept. 24, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIcE. g

JOSEPH M. DENNING, OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO DENNING- TRACTOR COMPANY, OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA, A CORPORATION OF IOWA.

PROPELLING MECHANISM FOR TRACTORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 24, 1918.

Z 1o all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JosErxI M. DENNiNG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cedar Rapids, in the county of Linn and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Propelling Mechanism foil Tractors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates in general to improvements in tractors of the type shown and described in my application Serial No. 49099, filed in the United States'Iatent Oftice on or about September 4th, 1915, and one of the objects of the invention is to improve and simplifythe propelling mechanism thereof.

A further object` is to provide improved mechanism of this character which will be durable and cheap in construction and effective and efficient in operation.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects as will appear, the invention consists in the features of novelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention and in which l Figure l is a top plan view of a portion of a tractor with parts removed, and having propelling mechanism connected therewith, constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view as taken on line 2 2, Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the tractor wheels 11, 12 are respectively connected with the laxles 13, 14, the latter being arranged in alinement with their inner ends in close proximity to each other, and being journaled in suitable bearings upon the side members 15 of a supporting frame or structure. v

Connected respectively with the axles 13, 14 are gears 16, 17. to rotate therewith. and disposed between the gears 16, 17 is asleeve 18, which serves in the capacity of a spreader for holding the gears 16, v17 separated.

A casing 19 is provided for housing the V gears 16, 17, and this casing is supported in any desired .or suitable manner from the frame work of the structure. The sleeve 18 also serves to hold the outer extremities of the hubs of the gears 16, 17 Aagainst the side walls of the casing 19.

Inasmuch as the axles 13, 14 are divided, the casing 19 in which the axles have a bearing, must be strong enough to support the weight lof the machine. In order to impart rigidity to this casing, it is preferably made arch-shaped in the center as at 20 and a reinforcing or strengthening` rib 21 is provided on the outside of the casing.

Journaled in suitable bearings 22 upon the frame 15 is a driven .shaft 23, commonly known as a jack shaft, and connected to this shaft for rotation therewith are gears 24, 25, which respectively mesh with the gearslG. 17 on the axles 13, 14.

An intermediate gear 26 is also connected with the shaft 23 and this gear meshes with a gear 27 that is connected with a driving shaft 28, the latter being journaled in suitable bearings 29 upon the frame work of the machine.

A11 of the gears 1 6, 17,24, 25, 26 and 27v are arranged within and housed by the casing 19 in order to protect the gearing and to permit the gearing to run in grease or oil, that may be placed within the casing 19.

Connected with the shaft 28 Vis a gear 30, which meshes with a gear 31 that is secured to a shaft 32 journaled in suitable bearings 33 upon the frame. l

Connected with` this shaft 32 are spaced friction disks 34, 35 and Ibetween the disks a -friction element 36 operates and this element 36 is connected with a shaft 37 of a motor 38. v The machine is advanced or moved 'back- Wardly by means of shifting the disks 34, 35 with respect to the element 36. The shaft 32 is mounted for longitudinal shifting movement in its bearings 33 and vmay be shifted in any desired or Suitable manner, not shown, so as to cause either one or the other of the disks 34, 35 to be moved into or out of engagement with the element.

Obviously a bearing may be substituted for the sleeve 18 in which the ends of the axles 13, 14 project and in that event, `the bearing may be held in. position by being fastened within the casing 19.

With this limproved construction it will be manifest that the parts are not only compactly arranged and the gears comn pletely housed and protected, but the parts roo are so constructed that they may he readily and quickly assembled, while at the same time is produced an eliicient propelling mechanism.

Furthermore with this construction it is possible by the use of this improved diferential or compensating gear, for one traction Wheel to travel at a different rate of speed than the other traction Wheel when turning.

What is claimed as new is 1. Propellingmechanism for tractors and the like embodying traction Wheels, separate and alined axles to which the Wheels are respectively connected, a gear connected with each of the axles, a driven shaft, gears connected with the shaft and meshing respectively With the irst said gears, an intermediate gearV connected with the driven shaft, a driving shaft, a gear connected with the driving shaft and meshing with the said intermediate gear, a casing housing all of said gears, said casing having an arch shaped portion and a strengthening rib adjacent said portion, and mechanism for rotating the driving gear.

' 2. Propelling mechanism for tractors and the like, embodying traction Wheels, separate and alined axles to which the wheels are respectively connected, a gear connected with each of the axles, a sleeve in to which the adjacent ends of the axles project, said sleeve also servingl as a spreader for the gears, a driven shaft, gears connected with the driven shaft and respectively meshing with the first said gears, a driven gear connected with the shaft, a driving shaft, a gear connected with the driving shaft and meshing with the last recited gear, and means for rotating the driving shaft.

3. Propelling mechanism for tractors and the like, embodying traction Wheels, separate and alined axles to which the Wheels are respectively connected, a gear connected with each of the axles, a casing housing said gears, the hub of each of the gears abutting one of the Walls of the casing, a spreader disposed intermediate the gears for holding them laterally separated, a driving shaft, and a gear connection 'between the said driving shaft and each of the said axles.

4. Propelling mechanism for tractors and the like, embodying traction Wheels, separate and alined axles to Which the Wheels are respectively connected, a gear connected with each of the axles, a casing housing said gears, the hub of each of the gears abutting one of the Walls of the casing, a spreader disposed intermediate the gears for holding them laterally separated, a driven shaft, gears connected With the driven shaft and respectively meshing with the -irst said gears, an intermediate gear connected With the shaft, a driving shaft, a gear connected with the driving shaft and meshing With the said intermediate gear, a casing housing j all of said gears, and means exterior of the .f

casing for rotating the driving shaft.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence or' tWo subscribing Witnesses, on this 11th day of September, A. D. 1916.

' JOSEPH M. DENNING.

Witnesses:

Mino C. NELSON, C. G. KrEBs. 

